Trilegal Delhi corporate, M&A and private equity counsel Vishwanath Pratap Singh has left the firm several weeks ago and is understood to be joining Luthra & Luthra as a partner in Delhi.

He has a strong focus on private equity, according to his Linked-in profile:

He has significant experience in advising a number of companies, investors and GPs, in transactions ranging from seed to late stage financing, M&A deals, private placements, rights issues, to corporate structuring. He has represented clients across a wide range of industries including health care, manufacturing, telecommunication, media and entertainment, e-commerce, computer software, real estate and food and beverage. He also regularly advises on general corporate law, in particular regarding joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements, corporate restructurings, and current developments in Indian corporate law.

The 2007 NLSIU Bangalore graduate had started his career at Amarchand Mangaldas, as it then was, leaving in 2015 as a principal associate to join Trilegal in Delhi.

His joining will give a much-needed fillip to Luthra's corporate practice, which has been lagging far behind its Big 7 rivals in most M&A league tables for the last two years. This year, the firm had not even made the top 20 of Bloomberg's league tables by value and come in at 10th position by volume with nine recorded deals, while Thomson Reuters ranked the firm 22nd by value (from 12th the previous year).

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Because Trilegal's dug a hole for themselves by not being able to increase the equity kitty to include new partners no matter how competent (absurdly, some of the more mediocre ones make partner). The steady departure of perfectly capable Counsels had started a while before, and this is only going to continue. Other firms are only happy to make most of them partners, while the Trilegal folks can only watch them leave.

Clearly that's something which only VP can say - this must have been his last option among the top tier firms (cringing to call LL that). Every other frontline firm has a bulging corporate/M&A practice and wouldn't want to add in another partner at this stage, so LL it had to be. Hope it works for the best for both of them!

Very common in law firms. One full team in delhi disintegrated with associates moving to greener pastures like KCO and SNR. Trilegal is still the hub of all business. It will continue to rise and shine.

Instead of hiring new people Luthra should focus on eliminating the blue eyed boy culture and kick out some highly arrogant blue eyed partners from the firm. The new hiring will be the flavour of season for some days and both the bosses will focus all their energies on him which will irk the blue eyed guys and then they will start hatching conspiracy theories against the new guy... result would be the same at the end of 8-12 months

For some years Luthra has not got any catch at partner level. Seems to have been at last successful in getting someone from a good Law school and at the same time a top tier firm. But I doubt Luthra now pays as much for partner as Trilegal pays it's counsel. May cause much heartburn. Reflection of distance Trilegal has travelled in last few years and the ground lost by Luthra. It's top management also is famous in market for going back on initiatal understanding.

luthra is famous for only supporting homegrown partners. At this stage, might not be the best situation for VP. But they have no M&A practice for last many years, and he has wanting to move for a long time so it will be the symbiotic for both parties. May be Luthra people will get to do some work now instead of eating chaat.

There is not much of M&A practice in Luthra, infact it was never a go to M&A firm if you compare it with the likes of AMSS,KCO, AZB, JSA etc. The internal system of the firm is a slave of few power centers there. VP will soon rethink why he ever moved to Luthra !!

Clearly, many of you wish the guy well & he's earned a good reputation for himself.Pretty sure the man himself is a better judge of what he's doing. Who are you all - his naggy aunts?

About every bit of hate thrown at Luthra in silly posts here applies to every other firm.But the gloves come off only for Luthra bashing!

Luthra seems to be making good moves. Let's give them credit where it's due.

An important lesson for L&L management would be to treat ex-counsels better & take good care of their talent pool. Over the past 5 yrs the firm has lost so much market position only because it has not done this. But, maybe there's something better in store for it this year.

The problem with Luthra is the management. One guy, who goes by MS, has ruined the entire firm - its culture and ethos. He has zero people skills, makes sexist remarks and is surrounded by a kitchen cabinet of yes-men and women. On his watch, the rot has been institutionalised. The firm has limited prospects, but is a good place to raid. Some of the people are really good- just they are stuck in the wrong place.

Some more departures are on the cards. Heard the increments for the year have not been paid despite 10 months into the year!!! The new partners must be thinking what is the point of promotion. No increment, no prospects of equity ever. What the heck??